The first thing you notice on the front page of Aftenposten Online is a big photo of three ships.

Hmmm, can’t be good, whatever it is. These look like military ships, and the headline says something about the US. What kind of trouble is the US causing now with their military power?

Then the headline: USA truer med å sende hjem nødhjelp (”USA threatens to send home emergency aid to Burma”)

Right. Here we go again, mean ol’ USA using any means necessary to get what they want, even if it means withholding emergency supplies meant to help the Burmese after the cyclone. Are they using their military to turn back the ships other countries have sent offering aid?

It turns out that US ships with fresh water and other emergency supplies have been waiting for over two weeks in international waters to be allowed into the country.

The Burmese government has repeatedly refused to let any foreign countries help their citizens. The military junta running Burma claims that it will accept aid, so long as that aid is offered “with no strings attached”.

This is a perfect example of the (thankfully rare) kind of bias Norwegian media has against the US. Jeez, Aftenposten, we do a good enough job making ourselves seem like asses to the rest of the world; at least give us some credit when we do the right thing!

It looks like I won’t live to see my apartment become beachfront property.

This is a really cool tool. I’ve been wondering for a while how rising sea levels might affect me here, given that I’m 20 minutes’ walk from the fjord. When will it be time for you to flee to higher ground?

This is surreal. Particularly the part where the Hare Krishnas show up.

…buying three books in Norway with free shipping costs 577 NOK (112 USD), while buying those exact same books in the US and having them shipped to Norway costs 305.89 NOK (60 USD).

(Bearing in mind that Norway doesn’t charge the 25% VAT on books.)

I find it amusing and saddening that Obama supporters are calling for the withdrawal of Hillary Clinton from the democratic primary race. They truly believe that she cannot win the primary, and that she’s “destroying the party” by continuing to run. This despite the following numbers:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday continues to show a very close competition in the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. It’s Clinton 46%, Obama 44%. Since Obama’s speech on race and national unity, Obama’s support has been within two percentage points of 45% every day. Clinton’s support has been within two percentage points of 44% every day (see recent daily results). New polling data released today shows that Sixty-two percent (62%) of Democrats aren’t ready for either candidate to drop out of the race.

Looking ahead to the General Election in November, John McCain continues to lead both potential Democratic opponents. McCain leads Barack Obama 51% to 41% and Hillary Clinton 51% to 41%.

Gallup has the numbers as Obama 47%, Clinton 46%; WSJ has the numbers at 45% - 45%.

I love it how Obama supporters are constantly accusing Clinton of using dirty tricks to subvert democracy. What, exactly, is democratic about insisting that one of two candidates who are in a statistical dead heat should withdraw from the race?

Now, concern that Clinton won’t do as well as Obama in the general election is merited. Some polls show the two candidates doing equally well or poorly against McCain there. Other polls show that Obama will do slightly better. Polls also show that Obama is better-liked and seen as more trustworthy than Clinton. These results don’t surprise me: Clinton is extremely polarizing. And that’s one reason not to vote for her. The fact that she inspires such hate among such a large segment of the populace is good reason to question her ability to govern this country.

I am absolutely astounded and disturbed by the vitriol Obama supporters have for Hillary Clinton, though. I am truly shocked when I see—on liberal web sites and forums—language like the following, used to describe Clinton and her advisors:

• absurd
• desperation
• disgraceful
• disgusting
• dishonorable
• entitled
• idiot
• nasty
• nauseating
• repulsive
• scourge
• shameless
• venal
• vile pigs
• weaselly
• whiny

Hillary Clinton is going to destroy this party mark my words.
My stomach is turning from all the relentless Clinton SPIN SPIN SPIN!

These people need to go away for the good of our democracy!

I’m sick and tired of the Clintons, this people are the scums of the earth. Every passing day just makes me revulse about this folks. They think they own the democratic party, well guess what Bill and Hillary I hope yopu days are numbered. You’re a disgraceful couple with no a single ounche of shame. Most people in this country have got dignity, but it’s obvious you people don’t. Democrats all around the country are seeing what you two are. A cancer on the democratic party. Evildoers who want to sink our chances of winning because somehow in your sick minds you two think it’s time for Hillary to be crowned queen. Well if there’s true justice in this world you two will be shamed out of the democratic party for what you’ve done at our chances of saving and rescuing this country from the disastrous policies of the outgoing regime. Go away, for the love of this country and her people go away Bill and Hillary Clinton.

The Clinton campaign is Iraq.

she is ruining America

I cannot see anything wrong with reminding the voters of the stain on the blue dress. Rapists do not bdelong in the white house

But our Billary and her fellow douche bags, male and female and hermaphrodite, is going to piss in the punchbowl for another month, at least. Probably two. All she is doing is making Warmonger McLame’s job in the fall easier by the day. That’s great for America, right Hillbots? War forever. Vetoes that we can’t override, thus strangling any progressive legislation- any at all. Tax breaks for the Clintons while the rest of us lose our homes, our jobs, and, in the military, our lives. Another 2000, at least, will die, and tenfold that number of Iraqis, all because Billary lacks any grace, and perspective, anything but seething bottled blonde ambition. Screw her. bill won’t.

Lovely, guys. I am still undecided as to who I want to vote for, but Obama’s supporters are making me question any support I might have for him. I don’t see the same vitriol spouted by Clinton supporters toward Obama, not on the sites I frequent, at least. And anyone who would vote for the opposition party in protest of the candidate who won the nomination deserves the country they get; anyone who chooses to sit out the election in protest of the candidate who won the nomination should do just that–sit out. The only people who should vote are people who care about the outcome and are willing to behave in a mature fashion, regardless of party affiliation. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. Presidential elections are too important for that kind of pettiness. Grow up.

Check out this interesting comparison of product packaging photos vs. the appearance of the actual products.

In researching why I haven’t been able to access ModBlog or Feministe for the past week or so, I learned how the Internet works, and am now absolutely terrified.

I just got my absentee ballot for the Pennsylvania Primary in the mail. I haven’t decided yet who I want to vote for. Who do you think is the best candidate? I’m especially interested in hearing what non-Americans think.

Here’s some stuff I’ve made lately. Thumbnails are for pussies!

Orange Chicken. This is another of my favorite dishes from
The Chinese Kitchen.

Kitchen Curtains. These I just made on the fly with my new sewing machine. Pretty dark green gingham to go with the green trim in my kitchen. I’m hoping the color keeps these from looking too kitschy.

Wavy Scarf for my Mom. This was her Christmas present and it took FOREVER to make. I used Idena Bamboo…that stuff’s the best yarn EV4R. Durable yet soft. Splits like a mutha, but it’s a joy to have sliding through your fingers and it’s worth it for the end result.

And now, for some pots. I think I’ve only posted one pot here before. Here are the pots I’ve made that I’m more or less proud of:

This one I gave to my brother-in-law for Christmas. I think it’s the best pot I’ve ever made, so I hope he damn well appreciates it. :Þ

This was my favorite pot before the one above. It was one of the first pots I made.

This pot I gave to my in-laws for Christmas, with a gift card inside informing them that we’d donated an XO in their name. No, you’re really not supposed to throw pots with this coarse clay.

These were originally meant to be a set of three, but one of them split during firing. Pain teaches: I learned to cut out the slabs for only one pot at a time. I still like ‘em as just a pair; they’re sitting out on my kitchen counter.

Another of my first pots. This one I sent to my Uncle Scott.

Chun glaze experimentation.

Another pot.

This one sits in the hand so nicely. I gave to to HansO because he likes dark red.

Another very early pot. A gift to my in-laws.

Sadly, it seems like the best pots I made were the post I made a long time ago.

In the future, I’ll try to be better about posting pictures as I finish things as opposed to posting them all in one big glut.

I just updated Romerike Helsebygg’s site with a bunch of new images Bjørn sent me. These new images are incredibly inspiring, although not as inspiring as getting to see the construction progress every time I take the train into Lillestrøm! I’m also happy to see that my site design has held up well these past five years.